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April 5, 2006
PRESS RELEASE
New Police Officer Receives Crime Stoppers Scholarship
April 5, 2006 –Douglas Kimmelman, Chairman of
Crime Stoppers of Somerset County, announced that Officer
Alterek Patterson of the Bedminster Township Police
Department is the recipient of one of the scholarships
offered by Crime Stoppers each year. The scholarship
was awarded following Officer Patterson’s successful
completion of the six-month training program at the
Somerset County Police Academy at Raritan Valley Community
College. Officer Patterson graduated from the Police
Academy in December 2005, and was hired by the Bedminster
Township Police Department to begin working in the
township in January of this year. He is 25 years old,
a resident of Piscataway, New Jersey and a graduate
of Virginia State University with a Bachelor’s
Degree in Health and Physical Education.
Dr. Richard Celeste, Academy Director,
explained that Officer Patterson was enrolled in
the academy as an Alternate Route candidate. Alternate
Route candidates pay their own way through the academy
and are then selected for employment by participating
law enforcement agencies. Dr. Richard Celeste stated
that Officer Patterson’s
capabilities and hard work paid off for him as he was
awarded a scholarship from Crime Stoppers and was selected
to begin his career as a police officer in Bedminster
Township immediately after graduation.
Crime Stoppers of Somerset County,
a 501(c)3 not-for-profit agency, works in partnership
with law enforcement, the media and the residents
of Somerset County to promote safer communities.
In addition to providing scholarships to Alternate
Route candidates at the Somerset County Police Academy,
Crime Stoppers provides cash rewards of up to $2,500
to people who contact 888-577-TIPS with information
that leads to the arrest and indictment of criminal
offenders and capture of fugitives. Coordinators
at the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office
respond to calls to the TIPS line and direct the
information to the appropriate law enforcement agency
in the county. The identity of all callers remains
anonymous. Crime Stoppers also funds a grant program,
supporting community efforts to enhance the resources
available to maintain safe communities.
Crime Stoppers Chairman, Doug Kimmelman, congratulated
Officer Patterson and wished him well in his new position
with the Bedminster Police Department. He added that
he hoped there were many more qualified young men and
women who will apply for this scholarship in the future.
For more information about Crime Stoppers
of Somerset County please visit www.888577tips.org.
Contact: Katherine Feeks
Executive Director, Crime Stoppers of Somerset County
Kfeeks_crimestoppers@msn.com
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